EDITORIAL: We hope for KKK demise, but defend its right to free expression

Much like the Nazi swastika, the all caps letters KKK signal to us the very worst of which humanity is possible.

A story on the front page of Friday’s Star detailed claims by the KKK that they are returning to a growing presence in nearby Cleveland County.

The story and the distribution of Klan paraphernalia and pamphlets, led to a rising din on social media.

Now make no mistake, there are NO redeeming qualities of the Ku Klux Klan. It is synonymous with fear and hate and countless other undesirable states of being.

But given the reality of these claims of resurgence, it is useful, we believe, to look at some related issues that have surfaced as the news has spread.

One of the first debates that has ensued has been over the Klan’s First Amendment rights.

Salmon Rushdie said: “What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.”

There have been a few folks that want to criminalize the Klan’s free speech. Of course, it is tempting. When you see a cockroach, the first instinct is to squish it.

But, unlike pest control, the application of free speech rights must be consistent. We all lose if minority speech – no matter how repugnant – is squelched. For once those floodgates have opened, any one of us can be swept away.

Having said that, the right to free expression is not absolute. For example, the burning of crosses on someone’s yard obviously transcends free speech and becomes an invasion of property rights. Yet, that line should be set by the courts and be free from the emotional pull we might have to move it when a particularly distasteful group is in the limelight.

Another issue: Publicity.

We noticed come criticism of The Star’s decision to cover this resurfacing of the Klan at all. The line of reasoning is that giving these folks publicity is exactly what they want.

That may be true.

But if so, it is a necessary byproduct of the necessity of informing area residents what is going on.

Is it really an option to pretend racism and hatred doesn’t exist? Isn’t it possible that county residents, under a heightened sense of awareness would be more likely to see and report suspicious (or, possibly, criminal) activity if they knew it might be more likely to happen?

Burying our heads in the pillow and hoping the bad guys go away is not a winning strategy.

We hope the KKK in Cleveland County never gets off the ground. We hope it does not secure new recruits and eventually slinks back into obscurity.

But even given that hope, we defend its right to legally protected free expression and we believe shining the disinfecting light of truth on its activities is the best way to make sure our community keeps it in its place.